Zambia’s government has downplayed fears that treasury may not release funds for the second and third phases of its national digital migration programme.

The Zambian government has split the country’s digital migration project into three phases.

The first phase of the project was awarded to Star Software Technologies Company of China at a cost of $9, 554,124 earlier this month.

The contract is for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of phase one of the national digital terrestrial broadcasting migration project in Zambia.

But the second and third phases of the project have yet to be awarded to any company, and there is no indication that the contracts could be awarded soon.

Subsequently, widespread fears exist that a lack of funds may hold back treasury from releasing money for the project.

But secretary to the treasury, Fredson Yamba, has said his department is working on a budget. Yamba said the ministry of finance plans putting up a budget provision in 2015 for the project.

“Going forward, my ministry will put up a budget provision for the project. This is why I do not foresee any challenge any challenge for government to fund the project further as the treasury is prepared to ensure that the project is implemented smoothly,” Yamba said.

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has a digital migration deadline of June 2015.